Lazy Lester
Contrary to his colorful sobriquet (supplied by prolific South Louisiana producer J.D. Miller), harpist Lazy Lester swore he never was all that lethargic. But he seldom was in much of a hurry either, although the relentless pace of his Excello Records swamp blues classics "I'm a Lover Not a Fighter" and "I Hear You Knockin'" might contradict that statement, too.
While growing up outside of Baton Rouge, Leslie Johnson was influenced by Jimmy Reed and Little Walter. But his entry into playing professionally arrived quite by accident: while riding on a bus sometime in the mid-'50s, he met guitarist Lightnin' Slim, who was searching fruitlessly for an AWOL harpist. The two's styles meshed seamlessly, and Lester became Slim's harpist of choice.
In 1956, Lester stepped out front at Miller's Crowley, Louisiana studios for the first time. During an extended stint at Excello that stretched into 1965, he waxed such gems as "Sugar Coated Love," "If You Think I've Lost You," and "The Same Thing Could Happen to You." Lester proved invaluable as an imaginative sideman for Miller, utilizing everything from cardboard boxes and claves to whacking on newspapers in order to locate the correct percussive sound for the producer's output.
Lester gave up playing for almost two decades (and didn't particularly miss it, either), settling in Pontiac, Michigan in 1975. But Fred Reif (Lester's manager, booking agent, and rub board player) convinced the harpist that a return to action was in order, inaugurating a comeback that included a nice 1988 album for Alligator, Harp & Soul. His swamp blues sound remained as atmospheric (and, dare one say, energetic) as ever on subsequent releases including 1998's All Over You and 2001's Blues Stop Knockin', featuring Jimmie Vaughan. Lester continued playing and recording into the 21st century, releasing One More Once on the Spanish Karonte label in 2010. He died of cancer in August 2018 at his home in Paradise, California; Lazy Lester was 85 years old.
© Bill Dahl & Al Campbell /TiVo
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Discography
10 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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All Over You (25th Anniversary Edition)
Blues - Released by Antone's Records on Nov 10, 2023
24-Bit 88.2 kHz - Stereo -
I Hear You Knockin'!
R&B - Released by Universal Music Enterprises on Mar 27, 1994
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Superharps II
Carey Bell, Lazy Lester, Raful Neal, Snooky Pryor
Blues - Released by Telarc on Jan 1, 2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
All Over You
Blues - Released by Texas Music Group on Oct 6, 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Harp & Soul
Blues - Released by Alligator Records on Jan 1, 1988
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Blues Stop Knockin'
Blues - Released by Texas Music Group on Aug 21, 2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
One More Once
Blues - Released by Antequera Records on Nov 15, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rides Again (Expanded Edition)
Blues - Released by ACE RECORDS on Jan 1, 1987
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
You Better Listen
Blues - Released by Bluestown Records on Feb 21, 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Nothing But The Devil (Live (Remastered))
Blues - Released by Antone's Records on Sep 20, 2023
24-Bit 88.2 kHz - Stereo